leash
A long strap or rope used to hold a dog.
A strap, rope, or chain used to keep a dog or other animal under control, usually attached to a collar or harness.
To put a leash on a dog (or other animal).
To put a leash on an animal or keep an animal controlled with a leash.
Strong control that does not allow much freedom.
A strong limit on someone’s freedom or behavior; close control over what someone can do.
To control something and stop it from going too far.
To restrain, limit, or keep something under close control, especially behavior, emotion, or activity.
- Base: leash
- Plural: leashes
- Base: leash
- 3rd Person Singular: leashes
- Present Participle: leashing
- Past: leashed
keep [someone/something] on a short leash
1give little freedom
To control someone and not let them do much.
- They kept the interns on a short leash until they learned the process.
- Her parents kept her on a short leash in high school.
- After the scandal, the board kept the CEO on a short leash.
- His parents kept him on a short leash.
keep [someone/something] on a tight leash
1control very closely
To watch and control someone very carefully.
- The new owner kept the staff on a tight leash at first.
- Regulators want to keep cryptocurrency exchanges on a tight leash.
- During the crisis, the CFO kept spending on a tight leash.
- My boss keeps our work on a tight leash.
leash up
1put a leash on
To put a leash on a dog.
- Could you leash up the dog before the delivery arrives?
- He leashed the puppy up and headed to the vet.
- Please leash your dogs up near the parking lot.
- Leash up your dog, please.
off the leash
1free; not controlled
Not controlled; free to move or act.
- Dogs can be off the leash in the fenced area.
- Once the kids were off the leash at summer camp, they stayed up late every night.
- The new policy let managers go off the leash and make quicker decisions.
- My dog is off the leash in the park.
- After exams, I feel off the leash.
on a leash
1restrained; closely controlled
Controlled; not free to move or act.
- All dogs must be on a leash in this park.
- The editor kept the writer on a leash until the facts were checked.
- Investors want the company’s spending on a leash this year.
- The dog is on a leash.
slip the leash
1escape control or limits
To escape control and become free.
- The startup slipped the leash and began operating independently.
- Once the rumor slipped the leash, it spread across the office in hours.
- He slipped the leash of his old routines and tried something new.
strain at the leash
1be eager and impatient to start
To be very ready and wanting to start doing something quickly.
- The young athletes were straining at the leash before the competition began.
- She was straining at the leash to start her new job.
strain at the leash
1eager but held back
To want to start quickly but be stopped from doing it.
- The team was straining at the leash to launch the new product.
- After months of training, she was straining at the leash to compete again.
- Investors are straining at the leash for signs of growth.